In short
- Our Australian intercity section lists more than 40 operators, more than 1,000 lines and more than 12,000 stops.
- NSW TrainLink runs trains from Sydney to Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Dubbo, Armidale, Moree and Grafton.
- V/Line trains from Southern Cross reach Geelong in about 1 hour 10 minutes and Ballarat in about 1 hour 25 minutes.
- Long-distance tourist trains such as The Ghan and the Indian Pacific are booked directly with the operator.
Distances in Australia are long, but regional trains and coaches still connect most cities and many small towns. The intercity section of buses.app lists more than 40 operators, more than 1,000 lines and more than 12,000 stops, with departure boards and connections between places. Travel times below are the fastest connections in our timetables.
New South Wales and the ACT
NSW TrainLink runs regional trains and coaches to more than 365 destinations in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT. Trains leave Sydney Central for Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Dubbo, Armidale, Moree and Grafton. The fastest Sydney to Melbourne trip in our data takes just under 11 hours. Closer to Sydney, intercity trains to the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Newcastle, and the South Coast are part of the Opal network: Sydney to Newcastle takes about 2 hours 15 minutes and Sydney to Katoomba about 1 hour 45 minutes.
Victoria
V/Line runs the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Gippsland and Seymour lines from Southern Cross station in Melbourne, plus coaches to smaller towns. In our data Melbourne to Geelong takes about 1 hour 10 minutes, Ballarat about 1 hour 25 minutes and Bendigo just under 2 hours. On the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines you pay with myki, and fares are half price until 1 January 2027.
Queensland
In South East Queensland, suburban trains link Brisbane with the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast for the flat 50 cent fare. For longer trips, Queensland Rail Travel runs the Spirit of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns, the Tilt Train from Brisbane to Rockhampton, the Spirit of the Outback from Brisbane to Longreach, the Westlander from Brisbane to Charleville and the Inlander from Townsville to Mount Isa.
South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania
From Adelaide, regional coaches run to towns such as Murray Bridge, Port Augusta and Mount Gambier. In Western Australia, regional trains and coaches leave Perth for Bunbury (about 2 hours 30 minutes), Kalgoorlie and Albany. In Tasmania, coaches link Hobart and Launceston in about 2 hours 40 minutes, and Launceston with Devonport in about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Long-distance coaches and tourist trains
Greyhound Australia describes its network as Australia’s largest, with more than 1,400 destinations on the mainland. Journey Beyond runs two famous long-distance trains: The Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin via Alice Springs, and the Indian Pacific between Sydney and Perth via Adelaide. These services are not part of our timetables; book them directly with the operator.
Tips for regional travel
- Many regional routes run only once or a few times a day, and some not every day. Check the departure board for your travel date.
- Most long-distance trains and coaches need a booking in advance; city smart cards are valid only where the state network accepts them.
- Search the intercity section by town to see every operator that serves it.
